HTC buys Xena cranes and equipment

Tower crane and hoist company HTC in the UK has acquired the cranes and other assets of Xena Systems.

The purchase, for an undisclosed sum, was from administrators. It broadens HTC's construction plant offer in vertical transportation.

The fleet of more than 70 units included LoadSwift cranes, an X25 derrick crane and a range of rolling and fixed loading decks. Commenting on the purchase, Duncan Salt, HTC managing director, said, "This is a strategically important purchase for HTC, in line with our vision to provide cost effective solutions for the vertical transportation of materials regardless of complexity or location."

Salt went on to explain to IC, "Our strategy is to make the Loadswift operation of cranes and platforms fully independent of our tower crane business. We will achieve this by making the crane light enough to be carried in the construction hoist or lift, with the platforms to suit, both in terms of weight and geometry."

LoadSwift cranes were previously offered both for rental and for sale and this will continue, "Once we have perfected the prototype we will be selling units, mainly to overseas customers," Salt continued.

To head up the unit HTC has recruited Simon Armstrong from Balfour Beatty. "Simon's experience, both in cranes and small plant, makes him the ideal choice to deliver what we've got, align our supply chain and develop a broader business with wider appeal than our standard customer base," Salt said.

LoadSwift is an hydraulic boom crane that operates between floors. It lifts 3 tonnes at 6 metres radius and is designed to offload onto a rolling platform below. The X25 derrick crane was used by Cleveland Bridge to lift the cables for construction of the Boyne Bridge cable-stayed bridge in Ireland.